URBAN REFUGEE EDUCATION RESPONSE: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF ORGANIZATIONAL ADAPTATION IN KAMPALA, UGANDA

Abstract

The increased movement of displaced people around the world has been a major source of change in modern societies. Refugees escaping war, violence, and persecution lead to environmental changes for the countries that host them and present new challenges for both refugee and host populations by placing strains on resources and public services like education. This situation provides a unique case in which to study how organizations adapt to changes in their environment, a question which has often been asked by organizational sociologists. This thesis examines the organizational response of the education system in Kampala, Uganda to the influx of refugees by investigating the Education Response Plan, a recent policy meant to address this change and by analyzing the perspectives of key stakeholders.